The Interplay of Pathological Gambling, Substance Abuse, and Financial Ruin: A Case Report

Gambling, which was previously restricted to physical casinos and card rooms, has become readily accessible through internet platforms and virtual card games as a result of recently developed technological advances. The increase in the prevalence of pathological gambling (PG) disorder has been attributed to the extensive availability of online gambling platforms and the covert advertising that is associated with them. In this case, we examine an individual with a PG disorder who is intrigued by online gambling. This individual also has a co-occurring drug use disorder and is burdened by significant financial debt and family problems. These issues have arisen due to an uncontrollable impulse to gamble in online games. The participants initially achieved transient success in these online games, which led to a strong desire to always participate in them, neglecting their personal and professional responsibilities and overall well-being. After depleting the individual's financial savings entirely, he turned to stealing from his own home in order to continue gambling and recover their losses. This has been facilitated by the ease and convenience of online money transactions through websites and mobile applications, which has resulted in a greater engagement and understanding of online gambling.